{"id":1103581,"date":"2026-07-22T00:30:18","date_gmt":"2026-07-22T00:30:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1103581\/"},"modified":"2026-07-22T00:30:18","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T00:30:18","slug":"springboks-siya-kolisis-captaincy-called-into-doubt-by-england-great","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1103581\/","title":{"rendered":"Springboks: Siya Kolisi’s captaincy called into doubt by England great"},"content":{"rendered":"

Former England<\/a> fly-half Stuart Barnes has questioned whether South Africa could move on from Siya Kolisi as captain after a stellar debut month from Paul de Villiers.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kolisi did not feature for the Springboks in July\u2019s Nations Championship fixtures due to injury so a chance was handed to De Villiers, who grabbed it with both hands.<\/p>\n

The Stormers youngster was one of the standouts for Rassie Erasmus<\/a>\u2018 outfit as he featured in their wins over England, Scotland and Wales, wearing the famous six shirt.<\/p>\n

Kolisi question<\/p>\n

Barnes<\/a> would not be surprised if this leads to a changing of the guard for the Springboks<\/a>, so impressed he was by De Villiers, who he likened to two South African greats.<\/p>\n

\u201cHave we seen the end of Siya Kolisi<\/a> as Springboks captain? A giant of the game, an all-time great, but all good things come to pass,\u201d he told the Times\u2019 The Ruck<\/a> podcast.<\/p>\n

\u201cHas Rassie Erasmus found the man to take South Africa to the next level in Paul de Villiers? We haven\u2019t seen Kolisi, what we have seen is his replacement, a young man, come on and be as good as Ruben Kruger and Heinrich Brussow were.\u201d<\/p>\n

State of the Nation: Springboks\u2019 \u2018biggest success story\u2019 as Rassie Erasmus flexes \u2018unbelievable luxury\u2019 but left with minor regret<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Nations Championship school reports: Grading every country from head boy Springboks to the pupil in detention<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Erasmus has again blooded a whole host of players during a block of matches with 49 in action this month, 43 in the Nations Championship<\/a> games. There were six debutants including De Villiers but it seemingly had little effect on the team\u2019s performances as they continue to build towards a potential Rugby World Cup three-peat in Australia.<\/p>\n

Barnes credited the Springboks head coach for how he smoothly moves his side on and believes that could spell trouble for Kolisi, due to how De Villiers took his chance.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s almost as if Erasmus has seen this opportunity to just slide through the next generation,\u201d he continued. \u201cObviously, there\u2019ll be this view that you can\u2019t drop Siya Kolisi, but the great coaches, at some stage everybody has to be dropped because you can\u2019t be the best forever.\u201d<\/p>\n

Seamless changes<\/p>\n

He added: \u201cIt\u2019s fascinating and I wonder, Erasmus is the sort of coach who is so good at just sliding this through to the point we don\u2019t even end up writing a column about they have got a new captain. It just happens. One minute he\u2019s there, the next he\u2019s not, and South Africa move seamlessly on towards the third World Cup.\u201d<\/p>\n

As mentioned, South Africa won their opening Nations Championship fixtures and sit above New Zealand atop of the Southern Hemisphere standings on points difference.<\/p>\n

Want more from Planet Rugby? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for world-class coverage you can trust.<\/p>\n

The competition will return in November but before then the Springboks meet Argentina on August 8 before facing off with the All Blacks in a monumental four-Test series.<\/p>\n

Kolisi is set to return from the hamstring injury that kept him out of the first leg of the inaugural tournament and will hope to play a key part in the Greatest Rivalry games.<\/p>\n

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Is this the end of Siya Kolisi as Springboks captain?@SBarnesRugby<\/a> @AlfredReynolds5<\/a>, @CharlieFelix<\/a> discuss<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udf99\ufe0f Listen: https:\/\/t.co\/zKqwcCImYh<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/y0pIpIeS7T<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Times Sport (@TimesSport) July 21, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

READ MORE: Springboks legend claims consistent All Blacks weakness has not been tested under Dave Rennie as South Africa will offer \u2018completely different picture\u2019<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n